FINAL NSDS WORKSHOP

10-12 September 2009

AIT Conference Center, Thailand
Meeting Materials

Agenda (English,Russian)
List of Invited Participants
Information Note on Logistics (English, Russian)
Draft Handbook on NSDS
Link to NSDS Project Website and Briefs
Draft Terminal Report
Questionnaire on Impact assessment of NSDS Project (English,Russian)
Presentations
Photo Gallery

Background:

The regional NSDS project has supported the development of National and Sub-regional Sustainable Development Strategies (SSDS) for Central Asia (CA), South Asia (SA) and Greater Mekong sub-region (GMS). To this end a certain progress has been made in the 17 countries at national levels of 4 sub-regions to achieve the objectives of the project and materials are uploaded at the project website. SSDSs were released during the UNEP RRC.AP Collaborative Action Network Meeting on 5 March 2009 in Bangkok. SSDS of CA, SA and GMS focus on trans-boundary and common issues, sub-regional cooperation, and collective action. Both NSDS and SSDS tackle such pertinent issues as energy and food security, ecosystems management and organizing not only better international consultation, but also between civil societies, line ministries, and ministries of environment. In order to review the lessons learnt and the way forward the NSDS Project Secretariat has planned to conduct the final 3-day NSDS workshop on 10–12 September 2009, at the AIT Conference Center (AITCC), Asian Institute of Technology, Thailand.

Objectives of the Workshop:

The main objective of this final workshop is to get first-hand accounts of country and stakeholder experiences in developing and implementing strategies, their respective progress, and the challenges they face, mainly through:

1. Sharing experience of NSDS Project Implementation with stakeholders

2. Reviewing the role of NSDS in mainstreaming SD principles into National Development Plans

3. Reviewing of NSDS Handbook

4. Developing concepts/proposals to follow-up on NSDS Project Implementation

The project and impact assessment will be undertaken during the final NSDS workshop, as well as peer evaluation on the UNEP Handbook and project follow-up in the form of national and sub-regional concepts and proposals. During the workshop representatives will share their experiences, project impact on the process and content of NSDS and SSDS across their regions with presentations, and review the environmental policy making processes for sustainable development in Asia.

Invited Participants:

The participants will represent 17 countries in 4 sub-regions including NSDS focal points, representatives from Ministries of Planning, Economy and Finance, civil society organizations, intergovernmental institutions, practitioners, donors, regional advisors. The following countries are covered by the project:

South Asia (SA): Bangladesh, Bhutan, Pakistan, Maldives, Nepal, Sri Lanka
Greater Mekong Sub-region (GMS): Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, Yunnan Province of People’s Republic of China
Central Asia (CA): Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan
Northeast Asia (NEA): Mongolia

Participants will be making presentations with case studies and conduct lively discussions and, as far as possible, the organizers hope to achieve gender balance. In addition, we are expecting NGOs and international donor organizations to participate in the workshop. All travel, accommodation and subsistence expenses will be borne by the organizers. A total of 50- 60 people are expected to be present for the 3-day workshop. The workshop will be highly interactive with several case studies that will be noteworthy and illustrative of the approach to sustainable development. NSDS and SSDS publications and video materials will be displayed. Handouts with NSDS Project Briefs, draft NSDS Handbook and the draft project Terminal Report with impacts will also be distributed.

Contact Person:

Aida Karazhanova (Ms., PhD)

NSDS Project Secretariat

AIT/UNEP RRC.AP